Illinois notebook: Jackson knows there’s more to life than playing time

Tuesday

Sep 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2008 at 3:11 PM

Multisport notebook, with items on football, the world's largest basketball practice, and more.

John Supinie

Illinois reserve defensive tackle Anterio Jackson survived three lonely months as a 13-year-old abandoned in an apartment on Chicago's south side, living alone with no gas or electricity and hardly any food near the corner of 114th and Princeton.

"I just did what any kid would do,'' Jackson said. "I just survived.''

Four games into the football season, the Illini are still searching for some momentum and a meaningful victory, but Jackson's story shows there's more than wins and losses in college sports.

Illinois (2-2 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten) is preparing to play at Michigan (2-2, 1-0) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC). A 6-foot-2, 277-pound sophomore from Chicago Fenger High School, Jackson hasn't yet played a snap in his three years in the program, but he can't wipe the smile off his face.

"I look at other people's situations and see that it might be worse than mine,'' he said. Or perhaps he just takes a look back in time.

Eight years ago, Jackson worried more about staying out of the Department of Children and Family Services system than playing football. He didn't want to go to foster care, so Jackson just didn't tell anybody that he was living by himself, scrounging for food and trying to stay warm.

"Even though I was alone, I still went to school and did what I had to do,'' Jackson said. "I didn't want to end up in the system, and I didn't see any other alternatives.''

Jackson ate school lunches, took home as much food as he could and spent afternoons after school at a friend's house. Finally, someone asked why he never wanted to go home.

"I said, 'My mama's not home,' '' Jackson said.

Emma Allen, his best friend's grandmother who was asking those questions, knew something was wrong. She would eventually invite Jackson to live in her house. Allen later became his legal guardian. He's seen his mother several times, and Jackson doesn't hold a grudge.

"My love is unconditional,'' Jackson said. "I still love her despite what she did. Things happen. I don't erase her from my memory.''

Instead, he feels lucky to attend college on a scholarship. The community health major someday might return to his old neighborhood and try to make a difference.

"I feel really blessed to be here,'' he said. "I did what I had to do in high school. I got A's and busted my butt on the field. I made it happen. Even though I haven't played at all, I've got my education and great teammates.''

Remote control

Illinois' homecoming game against Minnesota on Oct. 11 will be shown on ESPN. The game time had already been set for an 11 a.m. kickoff.

That same day, Illinois will also host the world's largest basketball practice after the game, when the men's and women's teams will work out on a temporary court between the south end zone and the Horseshoe.

Getting defensive

Making plays on defense involves two things, Illini middle linebacker Brit Miller says: Tackling and reading the play. When the Illinois defense found itself out of position during key plays in a 38-24 loss at Penn State on Saturday, Miller knew the Illini better learn from the mistakes.

"The one good thing about college football is when you get beat on one play or one scheme, the next team for sure will try to do that against you,'' he said. "Tackling will come. We need to get ourselves in position to make plays. That's a mental thing. That's where we're at right now as a defense.''

- After playing last season in Italy, former Illini forward Roger Powell was invited to preseason camp with the Chicago Bulls. Powell, a starter for the NCAA runner-up team in 2005, signed a free-agent contract. He spent a portion of the 2006-07 season with the Utah Jazz. The Bulls begin practice today.